Carl not getting carried away

The Dons could move to within three points of first place with a victory this evening but midfielder Carl Baker insists the team are remaining level-headed.

Karl Robinson’s climbed to fourth in Sky Bet League 1 on Saturday with their 1-0 victory over Port Vale – a result which came courtesy of a third-minute goal from the winger on his first home start.

“We just need to take one game at a time and concentrate on ourselves,” Baker told MK Dons Player after the weekend victory over Port Vale. “If we do what we’ve set out to do then it will be irrelevant what other teams do.

“The gaffer said in the meetings all week that he’s not interested in what everyone else is doing. We just need to take one game at a time and concentrate on ourselves.

“Rochdale are a really good side and I’ve seen some of their results this season, they’ve been going really well. We know it will be a difficult game but all games are difficult at this level.

“The confidence here is sky high and the lads are working really hard. I’m sure we’ll be ready and firing come kick-off.”

Baker’s strike against the Valiants on Saturday was his second in as many games, after netting in the 4-3 victory over the same opponents in the FA Cup a fortnight before.

The winger, who has made seven appearances in total since joining as a free agent in September, hopes to continue the form and repay the faith shown in him by boss Robinson.

“To get the winning goal on my first home start is a great feeling. (The goal) came from the lads pressing really high up the pitch and I’m not sure whether it’s the keeper or the defender who’s had a bad kick out, but thankfully it’s come to me. I’ve just got one thing on my mind – get into some space and get a shot away. It was nice to see it go in.

He continued: “The gaffer showed faith in me by giving me my first home start and hopefully I repaid that. I’ve been training really hard and I’m feeling really good fitness wise at the minute too. It was nice to get on the pitch from the start.”